Tile-making machine.



W. J. MGCRACKEN.

TILE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION PILEDJUNB 20, 1910.

Patented May 28, 1912.

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WITNESSES: llVl/ENTOR 972/6. @mmdaw zz/gmww (firm d ug A TTORNE Y COLUMBIA PLANuRAPM co., WASHINGTON, 0. c4

W. J. MOCRACKEN.

TILE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED mm 20, 1910.

Patented May 28, 1912.

WITNESSES:

W7. 4 KM $7 fi awz COLUMBIA PLANDURAPN (20.. WASHINGTON. n. c

ATTOHNE Y .w. J. MoGRAGKEN. TILE MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, 191p.

Patented May 28, 1912 4 8HEET8SEEET 3.

WITNESSES: I S INVENTOR v ATTORNEY COLUMBIA FLANOORAPH COHWASHINGTON. D. c.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. McCBAGKEm-bi SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

TILE-MAKING [MACE-ENE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 28,1912

Application fiied June 20', 1910. Serial no. 568,030.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I," W'ILLIAM J. Mo- ,GRAOKEN, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Sioux City, in the county" of VVoodbury and State of Iowa, have invent- ,ed certain new and useful Improvements in Tile-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention relates to lmprovements in tile making machines, and particularly to means for making tilesandthe like from plastic material, as for instance cement.

The object in view. is the arrangement of improved means in a tileforming machine for raising and lowering the tile formers I and automatically feeding the molds to the formers.

A further object of the invention is the arrangement in a tile making machine, of for moving the walking beam thereof in such a manner as to cause one former to be raised as the other is lowered.

' A still further object of the invention is the arrangement of improved means for moving the mold tablein proper timed relationship to the movement of the formers.

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangement, of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. a In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is aside view of the .part of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the.

' same being disclosedon an enlarged scale.

Fig; 8 is a fragmentary 'view of a gearing mechanism and associated parts for moving the walking beam. Fig. :9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a bearing embodying certain features of the invention.

In constructing a machine/embodying the invention the same general outline of framework is provided as shown in my former Patent, #951,740, issued March 8, 1910,10115 improved means are provided for operating the walking beam used in raising and lowering the formers. In connection with the formers is also, arranged an improved table or chute for guiding the material into the various molds. Acting in conjunction and proper timed relationship to the formers and associated parts are arranged a plurality of tables having molds arranged thereon, which tables; are actuated in proper time for accommodating the formers. -All the moving parts of the machine are connected to a central power member which may be actuated by'any desiredpower so that the parts all co-act for accomplishing their respective objects at the correct time and without interfering with each other.

Also by the arrangement of the mold tables and means for actuatingthe same the machine ;may be continuously operated without stopping it for moving thefinished tile.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment ofthe same is shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Y a 1 indicates a framework having any desired number of uprights 2 and any desired number of cross braces3. The uprights 2 are mounted upon a base 4' which is provided, with a suflicient number of braces for properly holding the base in posit-ion, and supporting the various mechanisms connected therewith. Connected with the uprights 2 is an elevator 5, which preferably is formed of a chain 6 having connected therewith a plurality of buckets r7 The chain 6 passes over a suitablepulley 8 which is mounted in a'suitable receiving hopper9. Hopper 9 and elevator 5 are held in proper position in relation to framework 1 by suitable bracing members 10 and 11. The upper end of chain 6 passes over a suitable sprocket or pulley 12 supported by suit-' able braces 13 in such a manner as to cause the bucket 7 to dump into a hood 14 connected with chute 15. Chute 15 is divided substantially midway its length into discharge'chutes or nozzle's'16; and 17. EX-

tending upward from where chute 15 is 'divided into nozzles 16 and 17 is a partition, which in effect causesthe nozzles to be independent entirely to the top of chute 15.

As the elevator raises the material and dumps the same intochute 15 the various cups or elevating members pour or dump the material on, each side of the partition member, so that each chute receives approximately the same amount of material.

Walking beam 18 is connected with shaft 19 mounted in suitable bearings which are supported by some of the cross bars of the framework. WValking beam 18 is connected with reciprocating shafts 20 and 21 for raising and lowering the formers 22 and 23 connected therewith. Walking beam 18 is preferably formed of bars 24 and 25, (Fig. 3), which have their ends formed with slots 26 for accommodating pins 27 and 28. The pins or stub shaft journals are rigidly secured to sleeves or collars 29 and 30, which collars 29 and 30 are loosely mounted on shafts 20 and 21 respectively. Former 22 is reciprocated and rotated by rod 20 for forming properly a tile in one of the molds on table 31, which is rotated step by step, as hereinafter more fully described. The table 31 is arranged so that one of the molds thereon will be'directly beneath former 22 whenever the table stops. Arranged with its center in line with shaft 20 is an auxiliary table or guide 32 for guiding the material from nozzle 16 to the molds. Guide 32 is provided with an aperture therein sufficiently large for permitting the free passage of former 22 therethrough, and is also provided with a depending flange member 33 which fits over the end of the mold and causes the mold to be beveled or to take any other shape; according to the shape of the flange, the table 32 moving down for causing flange 33 to be positioned about the upper end of the mold during the molding operation, and holding the mold in position. The formers may be of any desired kind, as for instance with the solid center and flanges on the exterior for packing the material as the former rotates, and rises at the same time through the mold. The .guide 32 is provided with apertured lugs 34 and 35 which accommodate guiding rods 36 and 37. The guiding rods 36 and 37 are supported rigidly upon one of the cross bars 3, and upon suitable brackets 38 and 39, so that guide 32 may freely reciprocate and be guided in its movement by the rigidly positioned rods 36 and 37. Rigidly secured to guide 32 are rods 40 and 41 which in turn are secured to members 42 and 43. Members 42 and 43 are apertured at one end and at the opposite end have secured thereto actuating rods 44 and 45. The apertured ends of members 42 and 43 are designed to accommodate rods 36 and 37 so that springs 46 and 47 may normally tend to press down members 42 and 43, and eventually cause guide 32 to move down when not prevented by the actuating rods 44 and 45. Suitable adjustable stops 48 and 49 are provided near the upper ends of rods 36 and 37 for determining the tension of springs 46 and 47. The actuating rods 44 and 45 extend upward to a cross bar 50. Cross bar 50 is loosely mounted on shaft 20, so as to permit shaft 20 to freely reciprocate and rotate, but at the same time be held in its correct position thereby. By this structure whenever the end of the walking beam on the side of the machine on which shaft 24 is placed is lowered, cross bar 50 is permit-ted to move downward under the action of springs 46 and 47 until guide 32 has taken its proper position. This movement will occur simultaneously with the downward movement of shaft 20 and former 22, so that when former 22 passes through the guide 32, the guide will be in proper position in engagement with the mold. When the tile has been completely formed, and walking beam 18 is raising shaft 20 and former 22, the stop 29 will engage cross bar 50 and raise the same against the act-ion of springs 46 and 47, and will also raise guide 32 to its elevated position, as shown in Fig. 2. Stop 29 is rigidly secured to shaft 20 by suitable set screws or other means, and rotates therewith. Stop 29 is formed with a circular boss or extension 51 which fits into collar 29 so that collar 29 may move upward stop 29, but may not rotate therewith. By this structure it will be noticed that collar 29 only raises stop 29 and shaft 20 and does not lower the same but permits the same to move downward under the action of gravity. If it should bev desired to move the shaft 20 downward positively by walking beam 18, another stop, similar to stop 29, could be placed beneath collar 29.

Shaft 20 is preferably formed square and is arranged to pass through a guide 52 and also a guide 53, each of the guides being, of course, provided with a circular sleeve with a squared aperture, so that the sleeve may operate freely within the guide and hold the shaft properly in position. Mounted upon shaft 20 below guide 53 is a beveled gear 54 which is supported by a suitable bracket 55. Gear 54 is formed with a square aperture through which the shaft passes, so that when power is conveyed to the gear the same may transmit power to the shaft regardless of its reciprocatory movement. Gear 54 is arranged to mesh with a second beveled gear 56 which is rigidly secured to power shaft 57. Power shaft 57 extends entirely across the machine, and has secured at the opposite end to beveled gear 56 another beveled gear 58 which meshes with a beveled gear 59 loosely mounted on squared shaft 21, so that whenever shaft 57 is rotated, shafts 20 and 21 will also be rotated. Preferably beveled gear 59 is mounted above beveled gear 58, while gear 54 is mounted below gear 56. This will cause both of the shafts 20 and 21 to rotate in the same direction, so that both of the shafts may use the same kind of a former, namely, either with a right or left secured thereto a clutch 60 which is thrown shaft 57 may be connected and disconnected same time as the remaining parts of the machine. A

lever 70, is interposed between shaft 68 and I 68 into and out of operation for varying the structure whenever shaft 57 is rotated movement will be conveyed to the walkingbeam Y secured to a reciprocating feed bar 89.

31 and 31'. The stops 94 and 95 engage pins from a suitable belt actuated by any desired Mounted on shaft 57 is a worm 71 arranged to mesh with aworm gear 72 which by some of the cross bars of the machine. Worm gear 72 is provided with a stub shaft "73 which has mounted thereon alink 74 which is pivotally mounted upon shaft 7 5.

constructed former. Shaft 57 has rigidly into and out of operation by lever 61 so that to a power wheel 62, which receives power source of power. Rigidly secured to shaft 57 is a sprocket wheel 63 which actuates a chain 64 for transmitting power to the mechanism for rotating the mold tables 31 and 31 hereinafter more fully described. Alsoa second sprocket wheel 65 is secured to shaft 57 for actuating a chain 66 whichtransmits power to sprocket wheel 67, fromwhence power is conveyed to sprocket wheel 12 through shaft 68, whereby elevator 5 is "actuated at the A suitable clutch 69, actuated by sprocket 67, so as topermit throwing shaft action of elevator 5. a

is ournaled in a suitable bracket supported Shaft 75 is secured to arms 76 76 which are in turn rigidly secured to members 24 and 25 of the walking beam 18. By this for raising and lowering the same, the walking beam turning of course upon its pivot 19..

Arranged on base 4 are the various mechanisms for rotating the mold tables 31 and 31 andfor lockingthe tables against movement when not being rotated. Power is conveyed tothis mechanism through chain 64, which engages a sprocket wheel 77 that is rigidly secured to a worm 78, which worm when rotated moves worm gear. 79. Worm gear 79 is provided with a plurality of aper-- tures 81 for receiving pin 82 which pin is adapted to pass through a slot 83 in pivot ally mounted lever 84. One end of lever 84 is pivoted at 85 to framework. 4, and the other end moves freely bet-ween stops 86 and 87. Stops 86 and 87 are, loosely mounted upon a rod 88 which is rigidly Rigidly secured to rod 88 are stops 90 and 91 against which springs 92 and 93 press. The movable stops 86 and 87 are moved or pressed, by the end of lever 84, and communicate motion to springs'92 and 93 respectively, from thence motion is conveyed to reciprocating bar 89 for moving the same, which movement is conveyed through stops or hook members 94 and 95 to tables 94 and 95 secured to tables 31 and 31 re-. spectively. There are as many pins 94 and mined distance.

23. r In order to permit the members 94 and 95 to move back to their original position for again moving outward for turning the respective tables, brackets 96 and 97- are provided which permit a slightly loose movement of bar 89' such loose movement being resisted bysprings 98 and 99. Pivotally connected to lever 84 are links 100 and 101 which are also pivotally connected to levers 102 and 103. These levers are of identical construction, and also the ass0 ciated mechanisms are of like'construction, so that'the description of one of these levers will be applicable to both. Lever 102 is formed with a plurality of apertures 104 for permitting adjustment of link 100, whereby the throw o-f'the lever may be varied without changing the throw of lever 84. Lever 102 is pivoted at l05,to one of' the cross bars of base 4, and is also formed with a lug or extension 106 which carries a spring 107. Spring 107 is formed with an extending lug 108 and is provided with a'removable stop 109. Spring 107 is continuously held under tension by a spring 110 which continuously resists the action of link 100. When the mechanism is about to move table 31 one step forward, lever 84 is moved overuntil the same engages stop 86. This movement is continued until bar 89 is moved longitudinally sufficiently for member to engage one of the pins 95 and move the same, together with the table, a predeter- During the movement .of lever 84 from stop 87 to stop 86 and before the movement ofbar 89, link 100 moves lever 102, and eventually moves spring 107, projection 108,'and stop 109. The move ment of stop 109*will cause the same to engage lug 111 and catch 112 will be moved upon its pivotal member until the outer 'end thereof has been lowered from one of the notches 113 in table 31. This will leave the table 31 free to rotate. As the motion of lever 84 continues, bar 89 begins to move and table 31. begins its movement. At the same time stop 109 continues its movement, and eventually isforced off of projection 111' by a second projection 114. This will permit the outer end of catch 112 to be raised under the action of spring 115. As

soon as table 31 has been moved a further;

distance catch 112 will move into one of the notches 113 for locking the table against connection it will be noted that table 31, former 23, and associated parts on this side of the machine, are identical with the parts on the opposite side, and are operated alternately therewith, so that no additional description will be necessary.

What I claim is:

I. In a tile making machine, the combination with a frame and movable tables carried by said frame, of a main driving shaft, means connected therewith for forming tiles, a longitudinally slidable bar carried by said frame, means operable by said main driving shaft for moving said slidable bar, yielding connections between said means and said sliding bar, means connected with said sliding bar for moving said tables upon the movement of the bar, and a releasing means for each of said movable tables for releasing the tables previous to the movement thereof by said rod.

2. In a tile making machine, a frame, a pair of rotatable tables arranged to carry molds, a plunger arranged to operate successively in said mold, a main driving shaft mounted in said frame, means for connecting said main driving shaft with said plunger for operating the same, an auxiliary shaft operated by said main driving shaft, a worm connected with said auxiliary shaft, a worm gear meshing with said worm, a pin projecting from said worm gear, a pivotally mounted lever formed with a slot for accommodating said pin, said pivotally mounted lever being pivotally moved back and forth upon the rotation of said worm gear, a reciprocating rod, means for connecting said pivotally mounted lever with said reciprocating rod, means connected with said reciprocating rod engaging said tables for moving the same, and a releasing means operated by said lever for releasing each of said tables just previous to their movement by said reciprocating rod.

3. In a tile making machine, the combina tion with a frame and moving tables carried by said frame, of a main driving shaft, a spaced shaft thereto, connection between said shafts, a worm on said spaced shaft,

a worm gear in mesh therewith, a wrist pin carried by said gear, a lever, pivoted to the frame of the machine and operated by said worm gear, a longitudinally slidable bar carried by said frame, yielding connections between said lever and sliding bar, and a releasing means comprising a trip, a yielding lever engaging therewith and connection from said yielding lever and said heretofore mentioned lever, to release said tables.

I. In a tile making machine, a frame, a pair of rotatable tables arranged to carry molds, a plunger for each table arranged to operate successively in said molds, a main driving shaft mounted in said frame, means for connecting said main driving shaft with said plungers for operating the same, an auxiliary shaft operated by said main driving shaft, a pivotally mounted lever, means for connecting said pivotally mounted lever with said auXilary shaft for causing said auxiliary shaft to move said lever back and forth, means operated by said pivot-ally mounted lever for moving said tables, and a releasing means for each of said tables connected with said pivotally mounted lever, each of said releasing means comprising a pivotally mounted catch engaging said respective tables, a spring connected with said catch for normally tending to disengage the same from said tables, a flexible stop engaging each of said catches for holding the same in engagement with said table, a spring for returning said flexible stop to its original position when moved therefrom, a lever connected with said flexible stop for moving the same out of engagement with said catch for permitting said first mentioned spring to move said catch out of engagement with said table, and a link for connecting said lever with said pivotally mounted lever.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM J. MOCRACKEN.

WVitnesses J. E. JAooBs, ROY A. SUTTS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

